Sara blushes again, smiling before pulling her hand away slowly. “If it’s still on, then I accept. But we will have to establish some ground rules.”
“Absolutely!” I grab my blank list from the desk and take out a pen. “What are your terms?”
Putting a hand to her chin, she thinks. “First of all, this will be a purely professional arrangement. We can fake some affection in public, but privately, we must act like business partners.”
I scribble down her stipulations, feeling slightly saddened by the rules but grateful she accepted at all. “Got it. Business partners.”
“That means no kissing unless it’s around family. And absolutely positively no sexual interactions.” She seems slightly embarrassed as she mentions the last rule.
“Agreed.” I sign my name at the bottom of our makeshift contract, holding the paper out to gather her signature. “We can discuss payment details later, but I assure you this will be worth your while.”
“Thank you, I really appreciate it.” She smiles, shaking my hand before signing her name below mine. “You’ve just saved my boys.”
“No, thank you. You have no idea.” Aunt Adelaide will be more than pleased to see me with an entire family.
I can tell that she’s warming to the idea of pretending to be my girlfriend as she grasps my hand once more. “No problem, darling.”
We both laugh, although something within me wants to ask her to bend the rules we’ve just established. Her smile is infectious, but I force myself to back down. She’s catered to me enough already.
“Is there anything I should know before we begin?”
My mind runs on my homophobic family, and I almost feel guilty for subjecting her to their hatred. “My family isn’t the nicest lot of people, they were awful to me for a very long time.” I say honestly, hoping that my truth isn’t enough to send her running.
“I’ve had my own problems with family.” She assures, rubbing my back sympathetically. “It’s nothing I can’t handle.”
Her touch is beginning to drive me wild, and I hold myself back. “What happened to the no affection in private rule?” I tease, hoping she won’t take me too seriously.
“Just trying to be the best girlfriend ever.” She gazes into my eyes, locking me in. “I know you have issues with your family, but I promise to be the best girlfriend I can be.”
“Thank you.” I can’t think of anything to say to her besides thank you, although it does not do the situation justice. I might have helped her out, but although she doesn’t know it, she saved me too.
Seven
Sara
I feel a huge weight lifted off my chest when Lucille is still eager for me to pretend to be her fiancé. I haven’t been able to sleep properly for months because I’m always so worried about what will happen to me and the kids, but now there seems to be a sliver of hope on the horizon.
I’ve always admired Lucille, and we became good friends over our time working together at the bookstore. It’s going to be hard for me to keep a professional distance from her when we’re pretending to be in love, but I’m going to have to make it work. Lucille is such a kind and amazing woman, and she deserves something good to happen to her.
“Sara,” I look up as I hear my name, and Lucille presents me with a check. I glance down at it in confusion and have to do a double take to make sure I’ve read the number correctly.
“What are you doing?” I ask, my voice slightly panicked. “Why are you giving this to me?”
Lucille raise
s her eyebrow, and I chastise myself for finding it so utterly hot. Now is not the time to start fantasizing about her. She pushes away my hand when I try to hand back the check.
“It’s too much!” I protest.
“No it isn’t,” she replies simply. “Now, go shopping and get yourself and the boys a whole new wardrobe. If you run out of money, call me.”
I try to mumble that I would never run out, but Lucille was using that stern, dominating voice that always turned my knees to jelly and made my heart hammer wildly in my chest.
“I’ve got some stuff I need to do in the city but I’ll meet you back here and we can head up to the Estate together,” Lucille says, smiling at me and pulling me into a hug. “I’ll see you soon.”
I feel giddy. I’ve never known anyone who uses “Estate” before, and I’m nervous that I might not live up to what everyone is expecting from Lucille’s new “girlfriend”.
As I head back up to the shop I run into Tasha who’s visiting.